Napoleon Dynamite Reviews and Ratings


  • kluroda01
    November 23, 2009
    kluroda01
    ya hafta see this movie at least once
  • Mir66
    November 19, 2009
    Mir66
    A classic if only for Jon Heders dance routine!
  • memo147
    November 18, 2009
    memo147
    Vote For Pedro!!! Gosh!! I Hate You!! hehehe
  • Ladiva4
    November 18, 2009
    Ladiva4
    This brand of humor is not for everyone
  • kcmcmahon88
    November 16, 2009
    kcmcmahon88
    Not exactly my kind of humor but I still got a few laughs out of it.
  • Zibbs
    November 16, 2009
    Zibbs
    You either Love this movie or you Hate it.


    "I see you're drinking 1%. Is that because you think you're fat? Because you're not. You could be drinking whole if you wanted to."


    Ok, before going on my tirade about the polarity of this film, I really just wanna say how much I lov...( read more)e the cinematography in this movie. All the colors, lighting, set design, outfits, and scenery all complement each other so wonderfully. Say what you will about the story structure or character development, but this is a beautiful picture. (Which may also be another aesthetic of this film that some people don't like.)


    "After one week with me in my dojo, you'll be prepared to defend yourself with the STRENGTH of a GRIZZLY, the REFLEXES of a PUMA, and the Wisdom of a Man."


    It was hard for me trying to find a critique online that I could sympathize with in regards to this film because many of the critics out there put so much aggression in their words against this film that it didn't seem like they were writing a review about the movie as much as they were describing their inability to relate to this film; and that's a shame.

    Roger Ebert writes in his review on this film: "We can laugh at comedies like this for two reasons: Because we feel superior to the characters, or because we pity or like them." - This statement reminds me of exercises I took in both Critical Thinking and Philosophy classes when I first started college. The exercises usually consisted of Yes or No/True or False questions that were supposed to determine your personality or character traits; when, in reality, they were meant to demonstrate that the truth, or correct answer, is not always found in the choices you are provided. - Since when are emotions (in this case, comedy) so egotistical that they're limited to such few elicited responses? (Furthermore, there are plenty of other sources of actual Schadenfreude, such as FailBlog.org or peopleofWalMart.com, that people aren't so sensitive about.)

    In the end, I think what aggravates most critics about this film is the same thing that most fans find really intriguing about it: It is a blatantly unformulated and queer movie. - For example, there are plenty of skits on MAD TV that use similar characters in their repetitive skits (Steward, The UBS Guy, Miss Bunny Swan, etc.), but all the skits have the same structure in relation to the character. With Napoleon Dynamite, it's a series of dragging an action figure with fishing line from behind a bus, feeding and yelling at a llama, throwing ham at someone riding a bike, eating tater tots out of your pants, childishly lying about everything, etc. - Concurrently, very dry, subtle humor revolves around the characters trying to be "cool" (which almost everyone seems to fail miserably at) by saying or doing weird, random things; and that's what makes this movie funny to some people.


    "Girls only want boyfriends who have great skills."


    Amy Biancolli (Houston Chronicle) writes: "Napoleon Dynamite may wear its eccentricity like a fright wig, but in the end it doesn't want to scare us. It wants us feeling warm and fuzzy. As Napoleon tells Pedro, 'Just listen to your heart -- that's what I do'."
  • panafricamarket
    November 13, 2009
    panafricamarket
    Watch and wait. The genius sneaks up on you at the end.
  • officiallyme
    November 13, 2009
    officiallyme
    its unexplainable...but ill try!!!! if u havent seen it, you'd think that the people who say it's funny are crazy....i dont know if its mind control but this movie pulls u in
  • bronzlox1
    November 13, 2009
    bronzlox1
    This one isn't for everyone but it's clearly for me. I want my own glamour shots.
  • jillnemisis
    November 12, 2009
    jillnemisis
    it was not that funny
  • schroder1993
    November 11, 2009
    schroder1993
    the dumbest movie ive seen in a while... lol
  • curlybones
    November 11, 2009
    curlybones
    Rubbish! I couldn't do 0 stars otherwise I would've
  • AmBeRPeArSoN
    November 9, 2009
    AmBeRPeArSoN
    absolutely not funny...altho i do say "GOOOOOOOD" sometimes...
  • smartyjones16
    November 7, 2009
    smartyjones16
    I've heard this is a dumb movie.
  • bloomin1
    November 7, 2009
    bloomin1
    a cult film I just don't get...
  • strawberry0babe
    November 5, 2009
    strawberry0babe
    i only watched the first 5mins it was so boring
  • snugglethebear1400
    November 5, 2009
    snugglethebear1400
    so stupid it makes me laugh
  • mandys26
    November 5, 2009
    mandys26
    LAME LAME LAME LAME LAME
    FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY FUNNY
  • babybellz9113
    November 4, 2009
    babybellz9113
    I saw half of it at camp. I want to see the rest of it. But I didn't like what I saw at camp but I'm gonna rent it anyways!!!!
  • stilettokillerz
    November 3, 2009
    stilettokillerz
    Nice story and funny as hell! BAHAHAHA
  • violetkey
    October 29, 2009
    violetkey
    I didn't get it and found it a little boring.
  • dukeakasmudge
    October 29, 2009
    dukeakasmudge
    1 of my all time favorites!!!
  • mariokilledpeach
    October 28, 2009
    mariokilledpeach
    weird, but not in a good way. I get that they are not supposed to be interesting people, but god...how dull!!!
  • terrychapman69
    October 27, 2009
    terrychapman69
    This movie is so STUPID but its also SO FUNNY! Definitely worth watching although you will probably have to rewatch to get the
  • TEAMHAMBY
    October 26, 2009
    TEAMHAMBY
    not as funny as everyone thinks
  • loveydovey86
    October 25, 2009
    loveydovey86
    ha I talk like him sometimes, left an impression lol
  • sabrinagramos
    October 24, 2009
    sabrinagramos
    i just like that scene where jon heder downs the gatorade after dancing in his room.
  • aiforge
    October 23, 2009
    aiforge
    Despite rave reviews by just about everyone I know, Napolean Dynamite just wasn't all I expected. Hilarious it is not, laughable, yes.
    Jon Heder & Efren Ramirez are a poncho duo that get insanely huge doses of ridicule because of their personalities. But it is heavily ironic tha...( read more)t the rest of the town have mental capacities similar to those aged between three to seven. Humour-wise I guess you'd have to have the right kind of humour to begin with or else it just feels dry and ungregarious. Simply didn't find this a film to 'love'.
  • eima96
    October 21, 2009
    eima96
    I really didnt like this movie
  • lostintheshadow
    October 20, 2009
    lostintheshadow
    Dull, stupid and overrated.
  • fusionroxally
    October 18, 2009
    fusionroxally
    def, wants to see it
  • MovieGuruDude72
    October 17, 2009
    MovieGuruDude72
    One of the funniest movies I've ever seen. Of course, it's also one of those comedies you either love or don't get at all. I laughed for 20 minutes at the scene where the guy shoots the cow and when Uncle Rico throws a steak at Napoleon's face. Completely odd, but completely bril...( read more)liant.
  • amckinley06
    October 17, 2009
    amckinley06
    Very dull but in a funny way lol
  • charismaneyeliner
    October 16, 2009
    charismaneyeliner
    I was told to NEVER watch it, shit, I already live too close to Idaho as it is, LoL.
  • mikeo1313
    October 10, 2009
    mikeo1313
    We all wanted num chuck skills and took our bikes on sweet jumps!!
  • adrisilva16
    October 9, 2009
    adrisilva16
    So dumb!!! But I still liked it!!
  • liam174
    October 9, 2009
    liam174
    Wes Anderson rip-off. Good though.
  • juliegervick1
    October 4, 2009
    juliegervick1
    Cult classic...really quirky and inventive. Heder is wonderful in the title role.
  • grbpl
    October 3, 2009
    grbpl
    one of my least favorite movies
  • krystinac
    October 3, 2009
    krystinac
    lol is alli can say!!!
  • fluturash
    October 1, 2009
    fluturash
    i can't see the charm in this one. sleep-inducing.
  • superspecialawesome
    September 30, 2009
    superspecialawesome
    Funny movie, once you get it. A little weird though, but I guess that adds charm.
  • djkynky1
    September 30, 2009
    djkynky1
    Sorta funny, but also sorta dull. It somehow manages to entertain regardless of the fact that nothing really happens. Definately for the cultists.
  • GreenGoblin92
    September 30, 2009
    GreenGoblin92
    Thought it was gonna be dull, boring and stupid considering it's an indie film, but it was actually good and funny. Though it still wasn't great like what many people think it is.
  • almosthuman75
    September 27, 2009
    almosthuman75
    what a waste of..well.. everything
  • tvwhitfield
    September 25, 2009
    tvwhitfield
    I think this is dumb! My sister loves it though!
  • animalluvr19
    September 24, 2009
    animalluvr19
    LOVE IT SO EFFIN HILERIOUS!!!!!

Summary

Napoleon Dynamite Summary